Coin-collector.



A. F. DIXON.

COIN COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION IILED JAN. 7, 1909.

1,040,526. Patented 0613.8,1912.

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A. F. DIXON.

COIN COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1909.

1,040,526. Patented 001;. 8, 1912.

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COIN COLLECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN.7,1909.

1,040,526, Patented 006. s, 1912.

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A. P. DIXON.

00m COLLECTOR.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. '7, 1909.

1,040,526. Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

A. F. DIXON.

COIN UOLLBUTOB.

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Patented 0013. 8, 1912.

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Patented 00b. 8, 1912.

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wlliaesaesx AMOS F. DIXON,

straw ana OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COIN-COLLECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

Application filed January 7, 1909. Serial No. 471,145.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A'Mos F. DIXON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Coin-Collectors,of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to a coin collector for telephone pay stations, andits object is to provide apparatusof increased etliciency adapted foruseeither as a local or a toll coin'collector.

My invention is designed to improve in certain details of structure andoperation on the type of apparatus shown in Patent No. 846,500, issuedMarch 12, 1907, to Frank R. McBerty and Howard B. Holmes, and No.867,707, issued October 8, 1907, to Edward B. Craft.

The principal feature of my invention herein claimed relates to anelectromagnet and a circuit arrangement therefor, adapted for use inconnection with devices of the kind above referred to, whereby theeharging of the call is controlled in an ellicient and reliable manner.

My invention will be fully understood from the following specificationtaken in connection with the accompanying drawtions, respectively, ofthe coin collector of my invention, with the cover in section; Fig. 3 isa horizontal sectional view directly above the coin controllingelectromagnet, showing said electromagnet in plan; Fig. 4 is a detailrear elevation with parts broken away, of the coin controlling magnet;Fig. 5 is a detail front elevation o c coin controlling magnet, with thecoin refunding passage, above which it is mounted, in section; Fig. 6 isa central vertical section through the mounting plate and. the coin boxof the coin collector, portions being shown in side elevation; Figs. 7and 8 are detailed views, partly in section and partly in elevation,showing'the door of the coin box in depositing and refunding positions,respectively; Fig. 9is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is adetail perspective view of the door of the coin box; and Fig. 11 is adiagram of the circuits and apparatus employed.

.S imilar reference characters are used to designate similar partswherever shown.

The mechanism shown at the upper portion of Figs. 1 and 2 is of wellknown construction, being substantially identical with that shown anddescribed in the hereinbetore mentioned patents, and hence a detaileddescription of the same is unnecessary. The temporary coin carrier 1 ismounted upon a roclnng shaft 2, which is ada )iCCl to be actuatedthrough the medium of the operating handle 3 to move the coin :arrierforward,so that a coin held in said carrier will be dropped into themouth l of" the coin chute 5. The front wall of the coin chute isextended above the mouth 1, and is provided with an inwardly curvedtongue (3 which prevents the coin froin being released until the carrierhas been drawn down suiiiciently to release the dog 7 from the ratchet8, thus preventing the deposit of the coin before the coin-carryinq'mechanism is in position to return to its initial position.

Below the mouth 1 of the coin chute 5 1s a lever 9, centrally pivoted atthe rear of the coin chute (see particularly Figs. 2 and 63. The forwardend of the lever exten 5 through a slot in the walls of the coin chuteinto the coin passage. The rear end of the lever 9 is provided with adog 10 normally engaging the upper end of a bell-crank lever 11, andholding the same in position to press against the insulating stud 12 ofthe contact spring 13 and thus hold said spring out of contact with thespring 14 (see Fig. 9). When the horizontally extending arm of the lever11 is raised in a manner hereinafter described, thus moving forward thevertically extending arm of said lever, the weight of the rear endof'the lever 9 causes said end to fall by gravity, and the dog 10engages with the upper end of the lever 11, retaining said lever inposition to hold open the contact springs 13 and 14, as above described.

The fall of a coin from the carrier 1 upon the lever 9 is normallyblocked by an obliquely disposed stop or guide 15, the forward end ofwhich projects into the coin chute above the lever 9. When said stop isinterposed in the coin chute a coin released from the carrier 1 will bedeflected by the stop and will pass into the cup 16 without contactingwith the lever 9.

When the stop 15 is withdrawn in the remain closed. Said contact springs13, 14,

" control the usual line signaling circuit, and

their closure causes the operation of a signal which indicates to thecentral oflice operator, in a manner well understood, that a connectionis desired. If a toll connection is sought, the subscriber is informedby the operator as to the additional amount to be deosited in paymentfor such servlce. It is nnmaterial what denomination of coin' s, withinthe limits for which the coin box is adapted, are used in payment of thetoll.

The operation of the toll signalingmechanism and means by which the stop15 is withdrawn from the coin chute are substantially the same as thatdescribed in the patents hereinbefore referred to, and hence a briefdescription thereof will suffice. Said stop 15, forms the free end of abent lever 17, which is pivoted at its upper end. The lever 17 carriesa. cam plate 18, which projects rearwardly from the same. A spring 19tends to operate the lever '17 so as to withdraw the stop 15, but suchmovement of the lever is normally blocked by the engagement of the plate18 with the extension 20 of the caliper lever 21. The coin carrier 1 hasan opening in one of its side walls through which a coin held in saidcarriermay project. During the advance movement of said carrier, saidcoin engages the curved arm 22 of the caliper lever 21, and moves saidle ver laterally to an extent depending upon the diameter of the coin. Acoin held in the carrier is not releasedtherefrom until it has passedbelow the arm 22, that is, not until the caliper lever 21 has been movedto the utmost extentthat a coin of such diameter will operate the same.As the lever 21 is.

moved to the left one or more notches or depressions on the face of theplate 18 permit said plate and the lever 17 to spring backwardly, whenthe extension 20 of the lever 21 is moved to one of said notches, thuswithdrawing the stop 15 from the coin chute. If the coin is of suchdenomination as will finally set the lever 21 in a position that willpermit such withdrawal of the stop 15, the coin will fall from thecarrier upon the lever 9 and operate the same in the manner hereinbeforedescribed. Coins of a diameter not provided for by one of the notches onthe plate 18 will not so setthe lever 21, and hence said coins will bedeflected into the cup 16 without contacting with the lever 9.

The cup 16, constituting a receptacle into which all coins are firsttemporarilydeposited after leaving the carrier 1, has a bottom adaptedto be tilted by an electromagnet 23 in one or the other direction,thereby depositing the coins in the cash box 24: or 1n the refund t-ray25, as the case may be. The'botf tom of the cup 16 constitutes a cointrap and comprises a frame 26, (see particularly Figs.

and hence contact springs 13, 1 1 meanwhile Sand 10) hinged at one sideupon a pivot 7 27, provided with a gate 28 hinged upon the I pivot 29upon the side of the frame opposite the pivot 27 The under side of thegate 28 provided with a downwardly projecting V-shaped lug 30, and theadjacent portion of the frame 26 is provided with a downwardly=extending rectangular lug 36, which lugs normally rest upon the end ofan arm 31.,

' fixed to the armature 32 of the electromagnet 23, said arm extendingunderneath the bottom of the cup 16.

When the lugs 30 and 36restupon' the arm 1 31, as shown in Figs. 5 and6, the coin trap is closed so as to hold the coins in the cup. Thearmature 32 is centrally pivoted upon vertical pivots 33, 34, and isnormally held in its unoperated position by centralizing spring-pressedlevers 35, 35, of the type commonly employed for such purpose. When thearmature is tilted in either direction it carries with it the arm v31which is thereby withdrawn from beneath the lug 30. When the arm 31 ismoved 'into the position shown in Fig. 7 the end thereofis movedfrom-beneath the lug 30, but still remains underneath the lug 36,thereby supporting the frame'26 but permitting the gate 28 to drop down,thus depositing the coins in the cash box. lVhen the armature'is tiltedin the opposite direction the arm 31 is moved from beneath both thelug-3O and the lug 36,

as shown in Fig. 8, and the coin trap swings upon the hinge 27, therebydirecting the coins into the refund chute 37 leading to the refund tray25. T

A downwardly hanging apron 38 pivoted upon-the pin 29 constitutes abarrier in the opening leading tothe refund chute '37, when the bottomof the cup is in its closed position, which barrier prevents theunwarranted insertion of an-implement through the coin chute to operatethe coin trap. v

The armature 32 is provided upon its 0pposite sides with upwardlyextending posts 39 at the upper end of which is securedthe 'ends of ahorizontally disposed loop 40.

The middle portion of said loop is provided upon its upper surface witha groove 11 in which, slightly above the bottom thereof, the end of thehorizontally extending arm of the bell crank lever 11 normally lies (seeparticularly Figs. 3 and 6). When the dog 10 is tripped by a coinfalling on the lever 9 .the horizontal end of the bell-crank lever 1-1falls to the bottom of the groove 41 and the vertical end of said leveris drawn backward in such position that it is not latched by the dog 10.The pressure of the lever 11 being thus removed from the stud 12, thespring 13 closes contact with the spring 14, as hereinbefore described.The contacts controlled by the springs 13, 14, remain closed until thearmature 32 is subsequently tilted. When said armature is tilted ineither direction the lever '11 rides out of the groove 41 and thehorizontal end thereof is elevated, thus tilting forward the verticalend so that the dog drops back of the same and holds the lever 11 in theposition shown in Fig. 6. In this latter or normal position the pressureof the lever 11 upon the stud 12 opens the contacts of springs 13, 14. v

In addition to the armature 32, the function of which has beendescribed, the electroinagnet 23 is provided with an additional armature43 mounted in close proximity to the end of a permanent magnet 44. Inshort, the electromagnet is provided with an upper armature 43 and alower armature 32, the upper armature 43 being directly under theinfluence of the permanent magnet 44, and being polarized thereby, Whilethe lower armature is so removed from the permanent magnet as to bepractically free from such polarizinginfluence. The armature 43 iscentrally pivoted upon the vertical pivots 33, 45., The pivots of botharmatures are carried upon horizontal flanges extending from a standard46.

The armature 43 .is provided with a stud 47 of insulating material whichbears against the end of a contact spring 48. The

actuation of the spring 48, due to the tilting of the armature 43,controls the closure of the contacts carried by the springs 49, 50

and 51. The upper armature 43 is so arranged that upon being tilted itoperates to close a contact, thereby short circuiting one or the othercoil of the electromagnet 23 and causing practically all of the flux topass throu h the core inclosed by the active coil.

The aux thus developed produces a pull H upon one side of thenon-polarized low'er in starting the required pull upon the armaturewhich controls the final disposition of the coins.

' The operation of the apparatus may now be readily understood byconsidering the apparatus hereinbefore described in connection with thecircuit arrangement which '1 ed in a manner well understood.

preferably employ, said circuit arrangement being shown in Fig. 11. i

The subscriber desiring a connection, either local or toll, deposits acoin of the proper denomination into the opening in the casing leadingto the carrier 1, and then pulls down the lever 3, thereby tilting thecarrier into position to deposit the coin in the coin chute 5. Theinitial movement of the carrier 1 causes contact 52 to open, saidcontact remaining open until the return of the carrier to its normalinitial position. The opening of the contact 52 is brought about for thepurpose of preventing a fraudulent operation of the mechanism, as fullyexplained in the hereinbefore mentioned patent to Craft. The extension20 of the lever 21 is moved and set in such position by the coin, if itbe of the proper denomination, that the stop 15 is withdrawn from thecoin chute. Hence the coin in passing to the coin receptacle 16 fallsupon the end of the lever 9 and releases the catch 10 from engagementwith the end of the lever 11, thus permitting the spring 13 to closecontact with the spring 14. The carrier 1 upon its return to its initialposition closes the contact 52. A signaling circuit is thus closed fromthe grounded central battery B, through the line relay It, limb L of theline, to the branch including the coin apparatus, the circuit of saidbranch being completed through contact 52, point 53, coils 54, 55, ofthe electromagnet 23, point 56, contacts of springs 14 and 13, point 57,to ground at Gr. The line lamp Z is thus light- The electromagnet 23 isso constructed that the flow of current from the battery B is notsulficient to operate the armaturcs of said electromagnet.

In case a toll connection is desired, the coin used to signal thecentral office is re turned, and the toll operator subsequently informsthe calling party the amount of coins required to obtain suchconnection. Since the coin initially deposited to signal the centralofiice is returned, it is immaterial what denomination is employed forsuch purpose, and hence I preferably provide notches on the plate 18that will permit the stop 15 being withdrawn if any one of severaldifferent denominations of coins are used, as, for example, it either anickel, a dime or a quarter is employed. The annoyance of having toprovide one particular character of coin in order to signal the central1office for a toll connection is thus obviate The coin or coins employedin payment of the toll connection are dcposited'in the coin cup 16. Theamount of toll deposited is made known to the toll operator in themanner set forth in the before-mentioned patents. The coin or coins inpassing roac es cured. The structure and circuit arrangement by whichthe refunding and the depositing operations are performed are importantfeatures of my invention, and hence will now be more fully set forth.

By operating the deposit key K or the refund key K .current of negativeor positive polarity, respectively, is sent from a suitable sourceGGflover the tip side of the cord circuit and line. The current thusflows from ground'at the central ofiice, over the line L, through thecircuit hereinbefore described as closed in signaling the centralotlice. This current flow is of suficient strength to operate thearmature 43, which is under the influence of the permanent magnet 44.Said armature in its operation short circuits one or the other of thecoils 54, 55.

lVe will assume thatthe' operator presses the key K, and sends over theline current of a polarity which will tilt the armature 43 in thedirection indicated by the arrow :0. When the armature is so tilted thestud 47 carried thereby operates the spring 48 so that it closes contactwith the spring 50. A short circuit of the winding 55 is thus closed,such short circuit extending from the oint 58 through the closed contactsprings 48, 50, to the point 57. The path of current flow is now asfollowsz'from the generator G one side of which 1s grounded,

over the line L, through contact 52, point 53, winding 54, point 58,springs 48, 50, point 57, to ground. Practically all of the magneticflux now passes through the core of active coil 54, thereby producingsuficient power to operate the lower armature 32, which is notappreciably under the influence of the permanent magnet 44, in thedirection indicated by the arrow :10. The armature 32 when so tiltedswings the arm 31 in a di motion to release the gate 28, and therebydeposit the coins in cash box. In a similar way the coins held in' thecup 16 may be deposited by operating the key K in which case the currentis of such polarity as to tilt the armature 43 in the directionindicated by the arrow 3 The resulting release of spring 48 permits saidspring to close con tact with the spring 51, and also to close contactsof springs 49, 50, thus short circuiting the coil 54. The flow ofcurrent is now as follows: from the generator G one side .of which isgrounded, over line L through contact 52, point 53, springs 51, 48,point 58, coil 55, point 56, springs 49, 50, to ground. Practically allof the magnetic flux now passes through the core of the coil 55,

thereby producing sufficient power to operate the armature 32 in thedirection indicated by the arrow 1 The armature 32 when so tilted swingsthe arm 31 in a direc- 7U tion to cause the coins in the cup 16 to bereleased in the refund chute.

In whichever direction the armature 32 swings, the looped extension 40thereof re sets the lever 11 in engagement with the catch 10 and thusopens the contacts of the springs 13 and 14. Upon the release of the keyK or K and the resultant denergization of the electromagnet 23, therestoring springs return the armatures 43 and 32 to their normalpositions.

While I have shown and described niy invention as embodied in coinactuated apparatus, it is obvious that certain features thereof may beembodied in other types of telephone toll-mechanism. It is furtherobvious that the sub-combination consisting of the elect-romagnet whichI employ for controlling the release of the COlIl into the cash box orinto the refund tray, is capable of 9' advantageous use in othercombinations.

1 claim:

1. In a toll-mechanism for a telephone system, the combination with alever arranged to be 0 erated in initiating a call, contacts control edby said lever, an electromagnet and a circuit therefor controlledby saidcontacts, an armature for said electromagnet, means for impressing onsaid circuit a current adapted to operate said armature, a secondarmature for said electromagnet responsive upon the operation of thefirstnamed armature, a lever operated by said second armature, and meansactuated by said lever for controlling the charging of the call. 2. In atoll-mechanism foratelephone system, the combination with a leverarranged to be operated in initiating a call, contacts controlled by'said lever, an electromagnet and a circuit therefor controlled by saidcontacts, a polarized armature for said electromagnet; means forimpressing on said circuit a currentof either positive or negativepolarity, contacts controlled by said armature for short circuiting oneor the other of said coils according to the direction in which saidarmature moves in response to said current, a non-polarized armaturemounted in position to be operated by said electromagnet when one of thecoils thereof 1 is short circuited, and means actuated bysaidnon-polarized armature for controlling the charging of the call. I

3, In a toll-mechanism for atelephone system, the combination with alever arranged tromagnet, means for impressing on said circuit a currentof either positive or negative polarity, as desired, a second armaturefor said electromagnet mounted out of the active field of the permanentmagnet, means controlled by the actuation of said first-mentionedarmature for increasing the pull in the one or the other direction ofsaid second armature, and means actuated by said second armatureinitsmovenient in the one or the other direction for controlling thecharging of the call.

4c. In a toll-mechanism foratelepbone system, the combination with alever arranged to be operated in initiating a call, contacts controlledby said lever, a polarized electromagnet and a circuit thereforcontrolled by said contacts, an armature mounted in proximity to thepermanent magnet of said electromagnet, means for impressing on saidcircuit a current of either positive or negative polarity, contactscontrolled by said armature 'for short circuiting one or'the other ofsaid coils according to the direction in a Which said armature moves inresponse to said current, a second armature for said electromagnetmounted out of the active field of the permanent magnet, and meansactuated by said second armature in its movement in the one or the otherdirection for controlling the charging of the call.

5. In a toll-mechanism for a telephone system, the combination with alever arranged to be operated in initiating a call, contacts controlledby said lever, a polarized electromagnet and a circuit therefor, saidelectromagnet consisting of two parallel, coil wound cores connected bya yoke and having a permanent magnet secured to the yoke and extendingto the forward end of the cores, a centrally pivoted armature mounted inproximity to the end of the permanent magnet, a second centrally pivotedarmature for said electromagnet, said latter armature being mounted outof the active field of the permanent magnet, contacts arranged to beactuated by the first-named armature to short circuit one or the otherof the coils of said electromagnet, means for impressing on said circuita current of either positive or negative polarity to actuate thearmature which is under the influence of the permanent magnet, and thusto bring about the actuation of said other armature, a lever actuated bysaid latter armature, and means actuated by saiil lever for controllingthe charging of the cal 6. In a telephone register system, an electriccircuit, a polarized electromagnet in said circuit consisting of twoparallel cilwound cores connected by a yoke and having a permanentmagnet secured to the yoke and extending to the forward end of thecores, two centrally pivoted armatures mounted one above the other atthe front end of said electromagnet, contacts arranged to be'actuated byone of said armatures to short-circuit one or the other of the coils ofsaid electromagnet, said other armature be ing responsive to themagnetic field set 11 by the active coil, and means controlled by saidlatter armature for regulating the charging of the call.

7. In a telephone register system, an electric circuit, a polarizedelectromagnet in said circuit consisting of two parallel coil-woundcores connected by a yoke and having a permanent magnet secured to saidyoke and extending between and above said cores to their forward ends,two centrally pivoted armatures for said electromagnet, one of saidarmatures being mounted in and the other being mounted out of the activefield of said permanent magnet, contacts arranged to be actuated by theformer armature to short-circuit one or the other of the coils of saidelectromagnet and thus to bring said latter armature under thepredominating influence of the magnetic flux from the core' containingthe active coil, and means con trolled by said latter armature forregulating the charging of the call.

8. The combination with a polarized electromagnet consisting of twoparallel, coil wound cores connected by a yoke and hav ing a permanentmagnet secured to the yoke and extending to the forward end of thecores, of a centrally pivoted armature mounted in proximity to the endof the permanent magnet, a second centrally pivoted armature for saidelectromagnet, said latter armature being mounted out of the activefield of the permanent magnet, and contacts arranged tobe actuated bythe first-named armature to short circuitone or the other of the coilsof said electroniagnet.

9. The combination with a polarized electromagnet consisting of twoparallel, coil wound cores connected by a yoke and having a permanentmagnet secured to the yoke and extending to the forward end of thecores, of two centrally pivoted armatures mounted one above the other atthe front end of said electromagnet, and contacts arranged to beactuated by one of said armatures to short circuit one or the other ofthe coilsof said electromagnet, said other armature being responsive tothe magnetic field set up by the active coil, and mechanism actuated bysaid latter armature.

10. The, combination with a polarized electromagnet consisting of twoparallel, coil wound cores connected by a yoke and having a permanentmagnet secured to said yoke and extending between and above said coresto their forward ends, of two centrally pivoted armatures for saidelectromagnet, one of said armatures being mounted in and the otherbeing mounted out of the active field of said permanent magnet, andcontacts memes arranged to be actuated by the attrection of ihn Witnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe the former armature to short circult oneor my name this 8th day of December A. 1).,

the other of the coils of said electromagnet, 1908. and thus to bringsaid latter armature under OS F. DIXON. 5 the predominating influence ofthe magnetic Witnesses:

flux from the core associated. with the active J, Ross SMITH, coil. JOHNN, iithmos.

